LIFE OF CHRIST.
35
23.
Tell briefly the story of His baptism and
temptation in the wilderness.
24.
Recite the leading events in His ministry
as far as studied.
READING.
" Desire of Ages," pp. 183-195.
NOTES.
1. The hot climate of that country made a drink of water of so
much value that under ordinary circumstances no one would think
of refusing it. But continued strife for centuries between the Jews
and Samaritans had created a most bitter and permanent hatred
between the two sections. In the first place, the Samaritans were
made up of people from. Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath, and
Sepharvaim, taken there by the king of Assyria when he carried
the ten tribes of Israel into captivity. A few stragglers, also, from
the ten tribes found their way back again to their native land.
For certain reasons, the king of Assyria returned one of the exiled
priests to that land, who taught the people the worship of Jehovah,
which they added to their own worship of idols. 2 Kings 17 :24-33.
' When the tribe of Judah returned from its captivity, these people
desired to join with them in building the temple at Jerusalem,
which was refused. The Samaritans in consequence built a rival
temple at Mount Gerizim. Eternal enmity sprang up; greater
holiness was claimed for Mount Gerizim than for Jerusalem; the
Samaritans accused the Jews of corrupting God's Word. On the
other hand, the Jews called the Samaritans Cuthites, and forbade
all intercourse with them; to receive one into the house was to
bring down the curse of God.!
2/Note how carefully the Saviour led the mind of the woman,
not only to voluntarily confess her sinfulness, but to ask questions
for the enlightenment of her darkened mind. He precipitated
nothing, but let her open the way for the line of truth she sought
to receive.," A worthy lesson for many now who would make
assertions people are not prepared to receive.
3.,C'he relations of the sexes in that day, even in common life,
were very narrow and suspicious among the Jews. An unveiled
woman in public was counted immodest. For a rabbi to speak to
a woman publicly was highly indecent. The Talmud forbade it,
even though the woman was the rabbi's own wife. He could not
even greet her courteously1 The disciples, however, dared not
question the act of their Master, even though the woman with
whom He talked was a hated Samaritan sinner. He went so far
over the bounds of prescribed custom as to conclusively show that
true religion recognized no social difference between the sexes.
In Christ all are one.